Commit to share the gospel in 2019

December 27, 2018

People love to talk about what they’re passionate about. Personally, I could tell you about the great book I just read, how my alma mater is doing in sports or the two concerts I recently bought tickets for. What is one thing that I am passionate about that I don’t talk about as often? Jesus.

I love Jesus and have loved Him for a long time. He has done amazing things in my life that I love to share with other believers. However, if I think that the person I’m talking to isn’t a believer or doesn’t care to know what Jesus has done in my life, it’s easy to avoid talking about it.

To share the gospel when I think the other person may not receive it well is scary. I am a people-pleaser, so the thought of someone not being happy with something I have to say immediately shuts me up and makes me want to change the subject. What if they ask a question that I don’t know the answer to? Or, if I do start to share the gospel, will I find myself apologizing for God’s Word if I think the other person does not agree with it?.

This is not what God has asked of us. God did not ask us to apologize on His behalf for what He said or what He is doing in our lives. God does not want us to fear man more than we fear Him. God commanded us over and over again to go and tell others about Him. We should be so moved by what Christ has done for us that we want to tell everyone we know about His saving grace. Psalm 96:2-3 says “Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” (ESV).

We should be so moved by what Christ has done for us that we want to tell everyone we know about His saving grace.

As we approach the new year, let us challenge ourselves to be more intentional about sharing the gospel in 2019. While this can seem intimidating – after all, I can think of plenty of people who are more qualified than I am to share the gospel – it doesn’t have to be that way.

An easy way to start sharing the gospel more is to pray more. Start by praying specifically for your family, friends, neighbors and the strangers you are going to meet that day. Ask God to show you opportunities to share the gospel and for boldness to have those conversations. Every time you brush your teeth or start your car, pray for a specific person that you want to have gospel conversations with.

I can guarantee that if you ask God for opportunities to share the gospel, He will give them to you. Once God gives you opportunities to share the gospel, it’s up to you to take them. Remember, it can be as simple as sharing what God has been doing in your life lately.

I remember the first few times I tried to use a rod and reel that was not a “push button.” You know — the one that requires pulling both the line and trigger to open the bearing, swinging your arm back, and then releasing both the trigger and line simultaneously. At first, this...

“Pay Attention!” These are the words that stop us in our tracks — children, athletes, students and employees alike heed these infamous words. In the letter to the Hebrews, the author calls the recipients to “pay much closer attention to what [they had] heard” because they were in...

You probably have heard the fact that more guests attend church on Easter than any other Sunday of the year. There is a related fact that you may not have heard: More churches miss the opportunity to connect intentionally with guests on Easter than any other Sunday of the year....

A few years ago, my family moved into a suburban neighborhood in central North Carolina. We loved the tree-lined streets, the warmth of the old homes and the idea that our kids would grow up in a picturesque neighborhood. However, the real reason we moved to our neighborhood was...

As we approach Easter and turn our thoughts and attention to the celebration of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, let us also remember that we have an incredible opportunity during this time of the year to share the love of Jesus with those who have not yet come to know...

The task of making and equipping disciples is the central task of the local church, and yet, we often rely on organic processes to make and equip disciples. An “organic process” in the local church is one that is undeveloped, lacks definition and has no true measures. Organic is...

As Christians, we often think of what we are saved from. Or what we are saved to. We are saved from sin, the wrath of God and eternal judgment. We are saved to eternal life and a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. But have you ever considered, what is your salvation for?...

Christians are called to be reconcilers. But that’s not an easy task in a culture that’s becoming increasingly antagonistic toward biblical truth. “The cultural moment that we live in is putting a lot of pressure on Christian conviction,” said John Stonestreet, president of the...